Food container with a utensil receiving structure

ABSTRACT

A food container with a utensil receiving structure includes a container body, a partitioning member, and at least one engaging member. Each of the engaging members may be provided on the partitioning member or the container body for engaging utensils, such as knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, etc., thereby forming a food container with utensils attached thereto so as to eliminate the trouble to bring along utensils during picnic or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a food container with a utensilreceiving structure, more particularly to a food container forcontaining instant noodles, soups, or the like, which requires adding ofhot water into the food container before serving, the food containerhaving utensils attached thereto.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Instant noodles or soups packaged in cups are quite popular todaysince they are ready to serve after adding hot water. However, theconsumers have to prepare utensils if they forget to ask for a spoon orchopsticks at the stores. It would be much inconvenient if the consumersare going on a picnic and forget to bring the utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore, the primary object of the invention is to provide afood container with a utensil receiving structure to enhance the addedvalue of food products.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a food containerwith a utensil receiving structure which ensures that consumers areprovided with utensils.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a food containerwith a utensil receiving structure which can be stacked so as to savespace and reduce transportation costs.

[0008] Still another object of the invention is to provide a foodcontainer with a utensil receiving structure in which the utensils arehygienic.

[0009] In order to achieve the above objects, a food container with autensil receiving structure of this invention includes a container body,a partitioning member, and at least one engaging member. Each of theengaging members may be provided on the partitioning member or thecontainer body for engaging utensils, such as knives, forks, spoons,chopsticks, etc. By virtue of the covering member which seals theutensils in the container body, a hygienic set of food container andutensils is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings, in which,

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of the first preferredembodiment of the invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of the first preferredembodiment;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic view of the second preferredembodiment of the invention; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a food container with a utensilreceiving structure 1 is shown to include a container body 12, apartitioning member 14, at least one engaging member 16, a coveringmember 18 and a connecting member 20.

[0017] The container body 12 is a tubular member having a predeterminedlength, shape and two open ends.

[0018] The partitioning member 14 is a plate member having an outerperiphery shaped to match the inner periphery of the container body 12,and is disposed in a predetermined part of the container body 12 along ahorizontal axis so as to divide the container body 12 into two receivingchambers with two predetermined volumes.

[0019] Each of the engaging members 16 is provided on the partitioningmember 14, and includes two projecting pieces 60 which are spaced apartby a predetermined distance and which are adapted for engaging utensils,such as chopsticks, spoons, knives, forks, thereon.

[0020] The connecting member 20 has a projecting edge with apredetermined width and is annularly provided at the inner periphery ofthe container body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16 suchthat it is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the outer end edgeof the container body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16.

[0021] The covering member 18 is a plate member having an outerperiphery shaped to match the connecting member 20, and is adhered tothe connecting member 20 opposite to the engaging members 16. The outerperiphery of the covering member 18 is provided with a projecting lug 80to facilitate pulling off of the covering member 18 so as to permitaccess to the utensils.

[0022] The food container with a receiving structure according to theinvention has the following features:

[0023] 1. Utensils can be attached to the food container to eliminatethe user's trouble of bringing utensils therewith.

[0024] 2. The invention can enhance the added value of food products.

[0025] 3. The utensils are sealingly enclosed in the food container andthus meet hygiene requirements.

[0026] 4. The covering member 18 in generally is formed from arelatively smooth aluminum foil or polypropylene film material. In theinvention, when the container body 12 with the covering member 18 isplaced on the shelf, the covering member 18 will not contact the shelf,thereby preventing slippage from the shelf. Furthermore, since thecovering member 18 will not come into contact with the outside, it isnot vulnerable to damage, thereby ensuring hygiene.

[0027] 5. If the container body 12 is configured to be a tubular memberhaving two ends with different diameters, and the utensils are disposedinside the container body 12, it can be stacked on another containerbody 12 so as to save space and transportation costs.

[0028] In the invention, the connecting member 20 can be dispensed with,and the outer periphery of the covering member 18 is shaped tocorrespond to the shape of the outer periphery at one end of thecontainer body 12 on the same side as the engaging members 16 and isadhered to one end of the container body 12 on the same side as theengaging members 16.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the connecting member 20 is notprovided, and each of the engaging members 16 is configured to be twoboss-shaped engaging members 16 disposed oppositely on the innerperiphery of the container body 12 along the horizontal axis. Theinvention further includes a cover member 22 having an outer peripheryshaped to match the shape of the inner periphery of the container body12 provided with the two boss-shaped engaging members 16 such that thecover member 22 can be press into the container body 12 to be engaged bythe boss-shaped engaging members 16 to form an enclosed end. The outerperiphery of the covering member 18 is shaped to match the shape of theouter periphery of the cover member 22, and is adhered to the outer endof the cover member 22. In addition, the cover member 22 may be formedto have point-connecting but removable utensils during molding.

[0030] In the invention, the two boss-shaped engaging members 16 may bea single one. In this case, the cover member 22 is slantingly fit intothe container body 12 until the bottom edge thereof is retained by theengaging member 16. Then, with the engaging member 16 as a fulcrum, thecover member 22 can be press into the container body 12.

[0031] Although the present invention has been illustrated and describedwith reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should beunderstood that it is in no way limited to the details of suchembodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A food container with a utensil receivingstructure, comprising: a container body which is a tubular member havinga predetermined length, shape and two open ends; and a partitioningmember which is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to matchan inner periphery of said container body, and which is disposed in apredetermined part of said container body along a horizontal axis so asto divide said container body into two receiving chambers with twopredetermined volumes; wherein: a covering member is a plate memberhaving an outer periphery shaped to match and secured at one end of saidcontainer body.
 2. A food container with a utensil receiving structure,comprising: a container body which is a tubular member having apredetermined length, shape and two open ends; and a partitioning memberwhich is a plate member having an outer periphery shaped to match aninner periphery of said container body, and which is disposed in apredetermined part of said container body along a horizontal axis so asto divide said container body into two receiving chambers with twopredetermined volumes; wherein: at least one engaging member is providedat a predetermined part of said partitioning member.
 3. The foodcontainer with a utensil receiving structure of claim 2 , furthercomprising a covering member which is a plate member having an outerperiphery shaped to match one end of said container body on the sameside as said engaging members and secured at one end of said containerbody on the same side as said engaging members.
 4. The food containerwith a utensil receiving structure of claim 1 , further comprising aconnecting member which has a projecting edge with a predetermined widthand is annularly provided at the inner periphery of said container bodyon the same side as said engaging members such that said connectingmember is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the outer end edgeof said container body, said covering member being secured onto saidconnecting member.
 5. The food container with a utensil receivingstructure of claim 3 , further comprising said connecting member has aprojecting edge with a predetermined width and is annularly provided atthe inner periphery of said container body on the same side as saidengaging members such that it is spaced a predetermined distance apartfrom the outer end edge of said container body on the same side as saidengaging members, said covering member being secured onto saidconnecting member oppositely of said engaging members.
 6. A foodcontainer with a utensil receiving structure, comprising: a containerbody which is a tubular member having a predetermined length, shape andtwo open ends; and a partitioning member which is a plate member havingan outer periphery shaped to match an inner periphery of said containerbody, and which is disposed in a predetermined part of said containerbody along a horizontal axis so as to divide said container body intotwo receiving chambers with two predetermined volumes; wherein: twoengaging members which are separately provided at predetermined parts ofan inner periphery of said container body; and a cover member which is aplate member having an outer periphery shaped to match such that saidcovering member can be pressed into said container body and engaged bysaid engaging members.
 7. The food container with a utensil receivingstructure of claim 6 , wherein only one engaging member is provided. 8.The food container with a utensil receiving structure of claim 6 ,further comprising a covering member which is a plate member having aninner periphery shaped to match the shape of the outer periphery of saidcover member and secured on said cover member.
 9. The food containerwith a utensil receiving structure of claim 7 , further comprising acovering member which is a plate member having an inner periphery shapedto match the shape of the outer periphery of said cover member andsecured on said cover member.
 10. The food container with a utensilreceiving structure of claim 1 , wherein said covering member is securedby means of adhesive.
 11. The food container with a utensil receivingstructure of claim 3 , wherein said covering member is secured by meansof adhesive.
 12. The food container with a utensil receiving structureof claim 4 , wherein said covering member is secured by means ofadhesive.
 13. The food container with a utensil receiving structure ofclaim 5 , wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.14. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of claim 8 ,wherein said covering member is secured by means of adhesive.
 15. Thefood container with a utensil receiving structure of claim 9 , whereinsaid covering member is secured by means of adhesive.
 16. The foodcontainer with a utensil receiving structure of claim 1 , wherein theouter periphery of said covering member is provided with a projectinglug.
 17. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of claim3 , wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided witha projecting lug.
 18. The food container with a utensil receivingstructure of claim 4 , wherein the outer periphery of said coveringmember is provided with a projecting lug.
 19. The food container with autensil receiving structure of claim 5 , wherein the outer periphery ofsaid covering member is provided with a projecting lug.
 20. The foodcontainer with a utensil receiving structure of claim 8 , wherein theouter periphery of said covering member is provided with a projectinglug.
 21. The food container with a utensil receiving structure of claim9 , wherein the outer periphery of said covering member is provided witha projecting lug.
 22. The food container with a utensil receivingstructure of claim 6 , wherein said cover member may be formed withpoint-connecting but removal utensils during molding thereof.